(CNN) - Republican Sen. David Vitter is considering running for Louisiana governor in 2015, he said in an email to supporters Wednesday.

Vitter, a two-term U.S. senator who was first elected in 2004, said in the email that he and his family started the decision process last week over Thanksgiving and will continue to weigh his options through the coming holidays.
"Many good friends and supporters have encouraged me to run for Governor in 2015–to bring my focus and leadership to the challenges we face as a state," Vitter said.

"We certainly haven't made our decision yet, so we'll be reflecting and praying on it very carefully through the Christmas holidays."

Any decision by Vitter could come early next year.

Current Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is term-limited and cannot run for reelection. Jindal, the former chairman of the Republican Governor's Association, is considered a likely 2016 Republican presidential candidate.

Vitter has rebounded from alleged past solicitation of prostitutes, having been linked to the so-called "D.C. Madam" scandal in 2007 and going on to win his second term in the Senate in 2010.

Vitter also served in the U.S. House from 1999 to 2005.

Republican Louisiana Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne has also indicated he will jump in the state's 2015 gubernatorial race, as has Democratic state Rep. John Bel Edwards. And New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, another Democrat, is also mulling a bid.

CNN National Political Reporter Peter Hamby contributed to this report.

soundoff(30 Responses)

Rudy NYC

Current Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is term-limited and cannot run for reelection. Jindal, the former chairman of the Republican Governor's Association, is considered a likely 2016 Republican presidential candidate.
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Gov. Jindal. Don't make me shake my head anymore. My poor neck hurts. Does anyone remember that weird State of the Union rebuttal that Jindal delilvered? When? Uh, 2009 was it? It was so strange that Jindal did more to raise the President's approval ratings than the President. I remember thinking, "Boy, I'm glad Democrats won. The Republicans are crazy."

December 4, 2013 02:38 pm at 2:38 pm |

rs

It will be very interesting to see how he plays his prostitution scandal with the GOP base.

December 4, 2013 02:39 pm at 2:39 pm |

tom l

There are gonna be some awesome posts on this thread here. I can't wait. If he can garner enough of the prostitute vote that should help him win.

December 4, 2013 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |

The Real Tom Paine

The fact that a moral cripple like Vitter not only did not resign after romping with the DC Madame's hookers , but won re-election and could probably win the governor's seat is an indication that GOP is more interested in power than in doing the right thing.

December 4, 2013 02:47 pm at 2:47 pm |

Tampa Tim

Family values in the sportman's paradise?

December 4, 2013 02:54 pm at 2:54 pm |

sonny chapman

That's not a very flattering pic of Mr. Vitter. Not quite the hatchet job they're doing to Mary Landrieu's pics.

December 4, 2013 02:54 pm at 2:54 pm |

Sniffit

"It will be very interesting to see how he plays his prostitution scandal with the GOP base."

I'm sortof even more interested to see if one of the Dems will grow a pair and do a commercial that photoshops him into a pair of pampers.

December 4, 2013 02:57 pm at 2:57 pm |

CryBabies

Rudy....If anybody knows "crazy". Democrats know "crazy". YeeHaaawww!

December 4, 2013 03:11 pm at 3:11 pm |

ChodaRagu

But wait! Isn't he one of those "career politicians" that the Teapublicans are always complaining about? He's been some form of office since 1999! Don't they want someone that isn't part of the "establishment"?

December 4, 2013 03:12 pm at 3:12 pm |

Joe from CT, not Lieberman

This was the guy with the hooker, right? A real family values champion!

December 4, 2013 03:13 pm at 3:13 pm |

Rudy NYC

rs

It will be very interesting to see how he plays his prostitution scandal with the GOP base.
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Scandal? He's already won a state-wide office since the scandal broke. Democrats had made it all up. Remember?

December 4, 2013 03:15 pm at 3:15 pm |

Al-NY,NY

as long as it's a republican, there'll be no problem. After all, he's found forgiveness with the Lord and that's good enough for the sheep. On the other hand, a democrat would be labelled evil and not worthy of consideration. Sanford did it so why not this guy?

December 4, 2013 03:19 pm at 3:19 pm |

Jeff Brown in Jersey

He looks good... Freshly shaved, showered and diapered!

December 4, 2013 03:20 pm at 3:20 pm |

Gurgyl

Is the one garbage carnage is scandalous guy,
Wee, I bet LA idiots deserve this corpse.

December 4, 2013 03:21 pm at 3:21 pm |

CryBabies

Al-NY,NY...Teddy, Teddy, Teddy, Teddy......

December 4, 2013 03:25 pm at 3:25 pm |

Jonathon Powelly

No doubt the Lord will make his feelings known.

December 4, 2013 03:25 pm at 3:25 pm |

Rudy NYC

Ol' Yeller

Now why would a Democrat do that at this time? Because Democrats think for themselves and unlike the republicants they don't toe the party line set forth in talking points and orders from their masters the koch brothers.
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Wasn't it South Carolina where the Republican Party had managed to get a phony candidate on the Democratic primary ballot, just a few years ago? I remember no one had ever heard of the guy, and he was ill-prepared for public office.

December 4, 2013 03:25 pm at 3:25 pm |

The Real Tom Paine

By the way, has anyone herard about the fake health insurance websites the GOP set up in states like CA? Its not enough that they did everything to stop implementation of the law, now they are engaging in outright deception to ( dare I say it?) suppress enrollment in the exchanges.

December 4, 2013 03:30 pm at 3:30 pm |

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA -aka- Take Back The House -aka- No Redemption Votes

If he wins, i bet he legalizes prostitution.

December 4, 2013 03:33 pm at 3:33 pm |

TONE

What is wrong with reasslicans no shame in their game?

December 4, 2013 03:33 pm at 3:33 pm |

The REAL Truth...

@CryBabies – Rudy....If anybody knows "crazy". Democrats know "crazy". YeeHaaawww!
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Yup, they sure do.. They just look across the aisle at all those red states sucking the Federal coffers dry (taking more than they contribute), see the propaganda outlets the GOP uses to brainwash the sycophants, wonders when the GOP is going to produce a viable candidate for POTUS while pushing the same lame candidates and ideals for office – and getting shellacked. Yes, the Dems' sure know crazy when they see it.. YeeHaaawww!

December 4, 2013 03:35 pm at 3:35 pm |

Lynda/Minnesota

"We certainly haven't made our decision yet, so we'll be reflecting and praying on it very carefully through the Christmas holidays."

You do that, Mr. Vitter. Just remember though. A few misguided letters to you from "supporters" might not be enough to get you elected as governor.

I rather doubt Chris Christie as leader of the Republican Governors Association will be in full support of you either. His "agenda" will be of a national spotlight centering on himself. Your "history" might become a hindrance to Christie.

For all his faults, Christie ain't in the "good old boy" Haley Barbour league of old fashioned southern "comfort".

December 4, 2013 03:35 pm at 3:35 pm |

Al-NY,NY

CryBabies

Al-NY,NY...Teddy, Teddy, Teddy, Teddy......
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you are correct. However the democrats don't claim to be the party of religious morality and family values. If the GOP are so virtuous and in tune with righteous piety how could they tolerate this behavior from someone who claims to be representing them?

December 4, 2013 03:39 pm at 3:39 pm |

Sniffit

"Nothing says personal responsibility like food stamps, 99 week unemployment insurance and getting the govt to pony up for part of your health insurance.

FIFY"

Yeah yeah, we know tom, when it's time to complain about how horrible the economy is and try to blame it all on Obama, you guys will point at all the poor and unemployed and lament at how they are all hapless victims of his and the Dems' policies BUT when it comes time to whine about taxes and government assistance, those same hapless poor and unemployed folks are all just lazy, feckless mooches who deserve their poverty, are entirely underserving of any help whatsoever and are devoid of any worth as human beings as proven by their lack of wealth. Which is it?

December 4, 2013 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

Rudy NYC

tom l wrote:

On another note, I appreciate your posts from earlier. We almost had a moment. I shouldn't joke because I really did think it was cool. You are right about it but it's frustrating when someone blatantly lies about me (that is hard not to take personally) and another questions your morality on a daily basis. Thanks again and let's keep howlin!
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Blastant lies? I said "IF you work in the financial industry ...." And you've been calling me a liar for it. That's a lie in itself that you're telling and repeating and repeating, tom. Keep it up. You'll win the right wing hammie award, yet.